Das Hinzufügen eines Magneten zur Elektrolyse könnte die Produktion von Sauerstoff unter schwerlosen Bedingungen vereinfachen, berichten Forscher in der Naturchemie

>Producing oxygen is tricky under weightless conditions in space. But the addition of a simple magnet can simplify the process of electrolysis, scientists report.

>Electrolysis splits water into oxygen and hydrogen using electricity. But under weightless conditions, the bubbles of gas don’t rise to the water’s surface. Instead, they cling to the electrodes submerged in the water, impeding the reaction. Placing a neodymium magnet near an electrode [helps dislodge the bubbles](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01890-0), researchers report August 18 in *Nature* *Chemistry*.

>The electrolysis system aboard the International Space Station spins the water to separate the bubbles. But this method adds bulk and complexity. A streamlined system with magnets could be key for [proposed missions to Mars](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/space-exploration-nasa-trump). “As we venture further into space, we really need to have reliable life support systems,” says aerospace engineer Álvaro Romero-Calvo of Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

[Read more here](https://www.sciencenews.org/article/astronaut-oxygen-magnet) and the [research article here](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01890-0).